Cooper, Whatley Clash Over $60 Billion Helene Recovery in North Carolina Senate Race
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 24
Cooper, Whatley Clash Over $60 Billion Helene Recovery in North Carolina Senate Race
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 24
Summary
Hurricane Helene’s aftermath has become a defining issue in North Carolina’s Senate race, with Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley trading blame over a disaster that killed at least 107 people and caused nearly $60 billion in damage.
Cooper says Trump effectively made Whatley the state’s recovery lead, while Whatley rejects the “recovery czar” label and argues Cooper mishandled rebuilding before leaving the governor’s office.
The dispute is resonating in western North Carolina, where reopened roads and busy downtowns still coexist with shuttered businesses, damaged public buildings and residents who say relief remains incomplete.
Whatley’s campaign points to $10.75 billion in federal hurricane aid, while Cooper’s camp says that covers only about 15% of losses and highlights more than $877 million in state relief he signed.
Recent polls show Cooper leading in a race Democrats see as a rare pickup chance in a state they have not won in a Senate or presidential contest since 2008.